Judoka Tulika Maan Withdrawn from Glasgow Games
Tulika Maan, a silver medallist at the Commonwealth Games, has been withdrawn from the upcoming Glasgow Games. The decision follows a provisional suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) due to three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. This development means Maan, who was considered a strong medal prospect, will not participate in the competition.
The Judo Federation of India (JFI) president, Mukesh Kumar, confirmed the withdrawal, stating that Maan did not disclose her whereabouts as required. He noted that the matter is currently under investigation and that Maan has been called to the NADA office for a hearing. Under anti-doping regulations, athletes are mandated to provide their location details to facilitate out-of-competition testing.
This incident marks the second setback for India’s judo contingent at the Glasgow Games. Just a day prior, judoka Arun Kumar was also ruled out after failing a dope test. Kumar, who competes in the -73kg category, received a provisional suspension from NADA after an adverse analytical finding in an out-of-competition test.
Understanding Whereabouts Failures
The whereabouts system is a critical component of anti-doping efforts, designed to enable authorities to conduct random, unannounced out-of-competition tests on elite athletes. Athletes who are part of a Registered Testing Pool (RTP) are required to submit their location information every three months through the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) ADAMS platform or the Athlete Central app.
These athletes must also designate a specific 60-minute window each day during which they will be available at a particular location for testing. If a doping control officer attempts to test an athlete during this designated hour and cannot locate them, it may be recorded as a missed test. Similarly, failing to submit or update location details is classified as a filing failure.
According to anti-doping rules, any combination of three missed tests or filing failures within a rolling 12-month period constitutes an anti-doping rule violation. Such violations can lead to significant penalties, including a ban ranging from one to two years. Maan now faces a potential two-year ban as a result of her three whereabouts failures.
This is not an isolated incident for Indian athletes. Sprinter Hima Das previously received a 16-month retrospective suspension from NADA due to three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period. Boxer Parveen Hooda also faced suspension by the International Testing Agency (ITA) for similar violations, which resulted in her being stripped of a bronze medal from the 2022 Asian Games.
Impact on India’s Judo Campaign
Tulika Maan had secured a silver medal in the women’s +78kg category at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Her withdrawal significantly impacts India’s medal prospects in judo at the Glasgow Games. She has also represented India at the 2024 Paris Olympics and participated in the 2022 and 2024 World Championships, highlighting her experience and standing in the sport.
The Indian judo team, which originally comprised 14 members with seven men and seven women, is scheduled to depart for Glasgow on July 27. The judo competitions at the 2026 Games are set to begin on July 31 and conclude on August 2. The absence of both Tulika Maan and Arun Kumar has disrupted the team’s preparations ahead of the competition.
In the previous edition of the Commonwealth Games, India’s six-member judo contingent secured three medals, including two silver and one bronze. The current withdrawals raise concerns about the team’s performance, particularly in the women’s heavyweight category where Maan was expected to contend for a medal.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
